S14 Fantasy League: Round 4
With the Bulls and the Western Force each having byes this week, it’s time to start being strategic with your fantasy league.
The on-fire Chiefs get another boost this week, with the return of fullback Mils Muliaina and Lelia Masaga – their addition to a backline that already includes Richard Kahui and Sitiveni Sivivatu makes them a potent force indeed.
Good news for Stormers’ fans is the return of Schalk Burger, while for the Crusaders – who take on their arch-rivals the Blues this week – another fetcher flank Richie McCaw makes his first full start of the season. He will also take over the captaincy duties from Kieran Read.
Trickiest part of the week for most fantasy league players will be deciding what to do with their traded Bulls – especially kicker Morne Steyn. The Bulls flyhalf is the second most-popular pick on the fantasy league standings, and the most popular kicker.
Potential replacements include the Crusaders’ Dan Carter, who this week goes up against his mate and former teammate Stephen Brett; Stephen Donald, who’s been raking up the points with the high-flying Chiefs; the Reds’ Quade Cooper, who despite a car accident this week is in the team’s starting line-up; and Joe Pietersen from the Stormers, who despite that crucial miss last weekend, has still knocked over a number of penalties and conversions.
Chiefs vs Reds – Friday 5 March 8:35am
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (captain), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Richard Kahui, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Romana Graham, 3 Nathan White, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Jarrad Hoeata, 19 Luke Braid, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Mike Delany, 22 Dwayne Sweeney.
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Will Chambers, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Brando Va’aulu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (captain), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Adam Byrnes, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Robert Simmons, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Ben Tapuai, 22 Blair Connor
Brumbies vs Lions – Friday 5 March, 10:40am
Brumbies: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Josh Valentine, 8 Stephen Hoiles (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Ben Hand, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Guy Shepherdson, 18 Justin Harrison, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Patrick Phibbs, 21 Matt Toomua, 22 Tyrone Smith.
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Burton Francis, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 George Earl, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Charles Emslie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Jacques Lombaard/Robert Kruger, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Carlos Spencer/Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Earl Rose.
Crusaders vs Blues – Saturday 6 March, 08:35am
Crusaders: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Robert Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Kieran Read, 7 George Whitelock, 6 Richie McCaw (capt), 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ti’i Paulo, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Reserves: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Peter Borlase, 18 Isaac Ross, 19 Jonathan Poff, 20 Kahn Fotuali’i, 21 Adam Whitelock, 22 Colin Slade.
Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Tom Chamberlain, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 George Pisi.
Waratahs vs Sharks – Saturday 6 March, 10:40am
Waratahs: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Tom Carter, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Will Caldwell, 19 Ben Mowen, 20 Josh Holmes, 21 Kurtley Beale, 22 Rob Horne.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Andrew Goode, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Johann Muller, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Waylon Murray.
Stormer vs Highlanders – Saturday 6 March, 5:05pm
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (capt); 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 John Hardie, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Reserves: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Matt Berquist, 22 James Paterson.
Cheetahs vs Hurricanes – Saturday 6 March, 7:10pm
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Riaan Viljoen, 22 Danwel Demas.
Hurricanes TBC
Tube Test – The Slaying Of Du Preez
Schalk Burger
The tackle, if properly executed (and by that we mean the crushing of bones) is one of the most beautiful things in the world of sport. We’re not talking about late charges, high tackles or players not using their arms. We’re talking well-timed, full-speed, high impact hits.
This tackle was one of the few highlights of Western Province’s 2009 Currie Cup season. The Incredible Schalk gets everything right in this one. He’s at full speed, his body posistion can’t be better, the moment of contact is perfectly timed and Du Preez doesn’t see him coming.
SARU Awards National Contracts
Victor Matfield and John Smit have been award national contracts by SARU
John Smit and Victor Matfield are among a group of ten players to be awarded national contracts by the South African Rugby Union.
The Springbok captain along with his deputy are joined by Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies in a move which seems to all but guarantee their places at the finals in New Zealand.
Nine other players have been handed one-year deals by the SARU.
They are Andries Bekker, Heinrich Brussow, Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs, Tendai Mtawarira, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, Danie Rossouw and Morne Steyn, while additional players called up will be receive pro-rata payments in line with the contracted group.
As expected, there were no contracts awarded to overseas-based players – the most notable absentees being Munster centre Jean de Villiers and utility-back Frans Steyn, who now plays for Racing Metro 92 in France.
Peter de Villiers’ team play their first Test of 2010 against France at Newlands in June.
Courtesy of ESPN Star
HAVE YOUR SAY: Any player you think that should be in that list?
Super 14 Injury Worries
Matt Giteau is in a race against time to be fit for Friday's clash with the Force.
With rugby’s most anticipated tournament less than five days away, many of the top teams are facing injury worries.
With the Sharks Argentinean flyhalf Juan Hernandez long departed, and the ever-injury-prone André Pretorius pulling out of the entire Super 14 with a hamstring ailment on the weekend, it seems like many teams are struggling with the crucial No 10 position in the run-up to the start of the season.
The Brumbies flyhalf Matt Giteau – back after a three-year sojourn with the Western Force – is also struggling with a leg injury, after he suffered a tear in his left thigh in training two weeks ago. Should he not be fit for the Brumbies opener with his old team the Force on Friday, it will be a significant blow for the Canberra-based side.
New Zealand’s Blues, based in Auckland, also have a fair share of injury concerns leading up to the tough derby with local rivals the Hurricanes on Friday. Fullback Paul Williams took a blow to the head, and will have to undergo cognitive testing this week; George Pisi is nursing a damaged shoulder; Anthony Tuitavake is out indefinitely and Luke McAlister is out for the first three Super 14 matches.
Fortunately for Stormers fans, Schalk Burger’s shoulder injury – sustained in the warm-up friendly against Boland on Saturday – is less serious than originally expected, and he should be fit to play on Saturday.
Captain, my captain
Schalk Burger is the obvious choice to lead the Stormers next season, but is really a good idea?
Schalk Burger might have too much on his plate in next season’s Super 14 to be burdened with the captaincy as well.
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